Nose clip



Nov. 22, 1949 J. BROWNE 2,488,616

NOSE CLIP Filed April 19, 1946 Patented Nov. 22, 1949 PATENT FICE NOSE CLIP Jack Browne, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Diving Equipment and Supply Co.,';.Milwaukee, Wis., 'a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 19, 1946, Serial No. 663,574

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to nose clips, and more particularly to a nose clip adapted to be worn by swimmers and divers to close the nostrils by compressing them against the septum.

Those who engage in aquatic sports frequently find it desirable to have some device which will hold their nostril-s closed in order to prevent water from entering the nasal passages. Not only is water in the nose temporarily uncomfortable, but it may cause more or less permanent injury to health if it enters the sinuses.

Many swimmers and. divers, however, dislike wearing a nos clip because they find it uncomfortable and irritating. They would rather risk the occasional unpleasantness of water in the nose than suffer the annoyance of wearing the ordinary nose clip.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and novel nose clip, adapted to be used by swimmers and divers, which may be worn comfortably for long periods of time.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an inexpensive nose clip for swimmers and divers which will be readily adjustable to afford the desired amount of compression of the nostrils.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a new and novel nose clip which may be cheaply manufactured and which is easily kept clean.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the nose clip of this invention illustrating its manner of use; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the pads or main members of the nose clip of this invention and the ferrule which is ordinarily mounted thereon, but showing these parts disassembled.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, the numeral l designates generally a mushroom shaped pad of rubber or similar resilient material having a substantially disc shaped head 2 and a substantially cylindrical stem 3. A ferrule 4 fits snugly around the stem 3. Installation and adjustment of the ferrule 4 is facilitated by an axial teat 5 extending from the end of the stem. As the ferrule 4 is brought up against the end of the stem, the teat 5 protrudes through the bore 6 in the ferrule. The teat 5 may then be grasped, as by a pair of pliers, in order to stretch the stem 3. When the stem 3 is thus stretched, the ferrule may be slid freely therealong, but when the teat 5 is released the stem 3 returns to its normal diameter so that the ferrule 4 will fit snugly in the position to which it has been adjusted.

The ferrules, and consequently the pads, are connected by a U-shaped coiled spring 1. The endmost coils of this spring are bent out to provide ring-like ends 8 to engage in annular grooves 9 of the ferrules 4. The pads l are thus yieldingly urged towards head-to-head engagement.

In using the nose clip of this invention the pads I are grasped and pulled apart against the tension of the spring 1. A pad is then adjusted against the side of each nostril, and when the pads are released, tension of the spring I will press the pads against the nostrils, compressing them against the medial septum of the nose. This spring tension will also hold the clip in place on the nose.

If greater tension is desired, the ferrules 4 may be moved outwardly on the stems 3 of the pads, away from their heads 2, thus increasing the spread of the spring. Since the ferrules fit snugly on the stem when the latter is not under tension, the resilience of the stem material will zfcurely hold the ferrules in the desired posi- From the foregoing description, taken together with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides a novel and improved nose clip for swimmers and divers which may be cheaply manufactured and which can be worn with comfort and is easily kept sanitary.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a nose clip of the character described and of the type comprising a pair of substantially mushroom shaped pads and a U-shaped spring having its ends secured about the stems of said pads, means for adjusting the tension of said spring comprising: an elastic and cylindrical stem on each of said pads having a uniform cross section throughout its length; an annular fitting adapted to secure one end of the spring about said stem, the inner diameter of the annulus being less than the unco pr ssed diameter of said 3 cylindrical stem so that the fitting will remain in position along the stem by compression thereof; and a teat extending from the end of the stem and adapted to be grasped to enable stretching of the stem whereby its diameter will be reduced to facilitate sliding the annular fitting along the stem for adjustment. 5 p V 2. A nose clip for closing the nostrils :by compressing them against the septum, comprising: a pair of pads each of a size and shape to fit against the side of the nose; an elastic stem of uniform cross section extending outwardly from each of said pads; a U-shaped spring having, end fittings tightly embracing said stems, said fittings being frictionally retained in place in any one of a Number 4 number of different axial positions along said stems to provide varying amounts of spring tension; and a teat at the end of each stem adapted to be grasped and whereby the stem may be stretched to facilitate axial positioning of said spring fittings therealong.

JACK BROWNE.

REFERENCES c'ITEb The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Cfountry Date 283,716 my Mar. 20, 1931 

